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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

It's not every day that I have the opportunity to learn from someone as knowledgeable and accomplished as Candace Kling.

She is a Master, and she is a sculptor.

For 30 years, Candace has studied textile collections held by museums and private collectors, intrigued by the underlying construction behind embellishment in costume and fashions.

Through her own pursuit of sculpting ribbons and fabric into art, she has acquired a knowledge of such depth and breadth, it is absolutely thrilling to a student wishing to learn.

And the fact that the room was surrounded by board after board of amazing examples was enough to make me hyper-ventilate in my exhilaration...

This workshop was intense for me.

There was so much information to absorb, so many techniques to observe and to try to imitate in making my own samples. It was hard to force myself to break for lunch or even the bathroom. (We joked that Depends needed to be on our supply list!)

I had many, many A-ha! moments.

But my biggest "take-away" was the idea that the fabric has to be sculpted -- that the fabric has a voice and, through the manipulation of a skilled hand, the piece can sing...

Candace's hands honored the ribbons...her touch was light...and she approached the ribbon as if she were sculpting fine porcelain, not fabric, into flowers.

All too often she would notice us pulling too hard, tugging and distressing the material, in our pursuit of the perfect bloom...and she would remind us to be gentle.

She taught that each hand will sculpt the same ribbon differently. And each fabric and or ribbon will react differently to the same technique.

So just as oil paints and watercolors behave differently in different media and under the practiced hand of different artists...so too does ribbon.

Because we were learning, we made large samples so we could see and remember all of the techniques that were covered.

Candace uses a padded, covered board similar to a bobbin-lace pillow to sculpt her work. To improvise, we used empty fabric bolts to pin and sculpt our samples.

Over the three days, we filled up three cardboard display boards...

And they were all beautiful and varied from student to student and ribbon by ribbon.

My samples are very special to me and mark the beginning of a new journey...

In pursuit of the artful ribbon.

[Note: Candace's book, The Artful Ribbon, is out of print but you can still buy copies through Amazon or other used book dealers.]

39 comments:

Wow!! What beautiful work !! I bet that was so much fun, it reminds me of so many ribbon & fabric flowers I have made over the years when working with our family Costume & bridal shop. Whenever a dress called for the flowers, it was my job to make them ,however there is alot of work in here that I have never seen before.I wish I could see more .I love this type of ribbon work! I just know it had to be worth the trip.

O.M.G. If I do nothing else in my life, i MUST take a class from Candace Kling, the Goddess of Ribbon. There is nothing more beautiful... and I am amazed (but not surprised) at the beauty of your finished pieces. Gorgeous, gorgeous roses. Love those two-colored leaves. Must go back and study the pictures more. You lucky girl!! Thanks soooo much for sharing! Hugs, Cathy

Gorgeous everything. Wow. I am only just beginning to explore a little ribbon embroidery even though I've admired the look for years. Your samples... all of those photos... are just stunning with the variety of the examples and your own sample pieces. Sigh. Thank you for sharing a little piece of the experience!

I can't stop scrolling up and down! Each time I look at a picture I see something different!!

I love "Be Gentle" and "So just as oil paints and watercolors behave differently in different media and under the practiced hand of different artists...so too does ribbon." For some reason, it made me think of my boys. We are the same hands sculpting the three of them, but they are all different!

Oh, Susan... how spectacular! I can see why you were hyperventilating! She is such a master with ribbon and fabric, it makes me want to get my hands on some and just play around. These photos are scrumptious, by the way. I look forward to seeing what you do with what you have learned!!

Susan,I now can fully appreciate the title of Candice's book, " The Artful Ribbon". As you have shared with us the ribbon speaks it's own words, the manipulator adds a verse and the result is truly artwork. I would have never thought of ribbonwork in this way. It some how gives me a much greater appreciation for a gentle hand. I thank you for sharing this and other workshops you are so fortunate to participate in. I always feel so relaxed after reading your posts.Debbie

They are all just gorgeous... I do have that book and will have to go through it... I REALLY like the folding on the ribbon bottom right on your board... That's the one I want to do ...hope it's in the book... Hugs Ger

Oh My Goodness...I have never seen such wonderous ribbon configurations. Sculpting the ribbon, finnessing the ribbon...all sound like such a good way to interact with the ribbon so it does just what you want and will love. Happy learning...

I'm drooling. I have Candace's books and have made ribbon flowers for years, but I know I could do better with help from the artist herself. Your work looks very practiced and lovely. I've never pinned my project down as I'm working because I get in such a rush to see the finished flower, but I'm making a promise to myself to do it the right way from now on. Thank you for keeping us inspired with your beautiful work. I ALWAYS learn something from you.Andreaadayinthegarden@comcast.net

Ever since I first saw Candace on the Carol Duval Show (who BTW encouraged her to write that book, the Artful Ribbon), I have been head over heels in love with ribbons and flowers and all the beauteous creations that can be made from them. Your photos are divine!! I may just have to seriously consider taking a class somewhere and experience it all first hand. Thanks for sharing!

and p.s. all those many moons ago on the Carol Duval show, I specifically remember Candace encouraging Carol Duval to "be gentle" and let the ibbons "speak" to you - obviously her ribbon mantra to this day.

Oh wow, what an amazing class. i bet you thought you were in heaven. There is so much to love here, I have scrolled up and down the photos, trying to taking in everything. The folded ribbon roses are just lovely.

This is going to be an amazing journey, i can't wait to see where it takes you :-)

OMG I am almost breathless at seeing this ribbon work. I can see how it would be hard to tear yourself away even for a minute. Funny thing is I spent about 2 hours trying to unravel my collection of ribbons in my studio. I cannot wait to see more of your creations. Thanks for sharing this.

Susanwhen I began my journey through Silk Ribbon embroidery - Candaces' book was the very first one I bought I had looked at some examples in a magazine and worked out how they did it but I knew I needed some help so I bought this eye opening tome- its still the book I go to if I want to do something different or just want to look at pretties - for they surely are that Candaces' ribbon flowers so pretties. I wish I lived that side of the big pond- classes with Candace, and Maureen oh my..love n hugs bear oxoxoxoxo

Wow, what amazing, amazing photos! I bet you had quite a lovely time at this retreat!! I'm a huge ribbon enthusiast too, and I totally know how you feel when you say the amazing examples were "enough to make you hyper-ventilate in your exhilaration" -- I was basically hyperventilating just reading about your experience! So many beautiful ribbons and flowers!

Years ago, I bought Candace's book, "The Artful Ribbon," after reading about her in Threads magazine. I tried to make some of her flowers but was discouraged by my less than wonderful results. I put away her book, thinking I would try again when my life was less hectic and I could devote more time to ribbon.

I've recently started making hats (simple ones) and decided to dress up some of them with ribbon flowers and other ribbon trims. I re-read Candace's book and am having better luck, but still not completely happy.

I found your blog today when I searched for more info from Candace. So glad I did because you taught me that I'm probably bulling my way through the process, not listening to what the ribbon was trying to say.